Strawberry plant named &#39;Triumph&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘TRIUMPH’. This new strawberry plant named ‘TRIUMPH’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium to large plant size, occasional fourth leaflet per tri-foliate, moderate to heavy petiole pubescence, medium to long fruiting trusses, and very attractive, medium-sized berry with good gloss, even red color and conical shape.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED Fragaria ananassa VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TRIUMPH’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘TRIUMPH’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-3003’ (non-patented selection) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California. in the fall of 2005. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, California and Siskiyou County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘TRIUMPH’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the fall production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘TRIUMPH’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. Medium to large plant size;

2. Occasionally has a fourth leaflet per tri-foliate;

3. Moderate to heavy petiole pubescence;

4. Medium to long fruiting trusses; and

5. Very attractive, medium-sized berry with good gloss, even red color and conical shape.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘TRIUMPH’ is ‘VALOR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,394). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘VALOR’, ‘TRIUMPH’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE STANDARD VARIETY ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Fruit: color Red Ranges from red to dark red Fruit: length × width ratio Slightly longer than broad As long as broad to slightly longer than broad Fruit: difference in shape Slight Moderate between primary and secondary Plant: size Ranges from medium to large Medium Stolon: attitude of hairs Strongly outward Upward Foliage: size Ranges from medium to large Medium Foliage: color Medium green Ranges from medium to dark green Foliage: number of leaflets Ranges from three to four Three Petiole: pubescence Ranges from moderate to heavy Sparse Fruiting truss: length Ranges from medium to long Medium Pedicel: attitude of hairs Strongly outward Upward

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘TRIUMPH’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-3003’ and ‘PS-4634’, by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ ‘PS-3003’ (US PP 17,487) Fruit color Red Light red Ranges from orange red to red Plant size Ranges from Medium Large medium to large Type of bearing Everbearing Everbearing Summer bearing Runner production Medium Ranges from Many (nursery) medium to light

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘TRIUMPH’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘TRIUMPH’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘TRIUMPH’ are between three and four months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, California:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘TRIUMPH’, taken in the month of November 2012;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘TRIUMPH’, taken in the month of October 2012;

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view comparing leaf structure of ‘TRIUMPH’, taken in the month of October 2012;

FIG. 4 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘TRIUMPH’, taken in the month of October 2012; and

FIG. 5 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘TRIUMPH’, taken in the month of November 2012.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘TRIUMPH’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘TRIUMPH’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘TRIUMPH’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2012 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘TRIUMPH’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Joaquin County, California during January 2012 and planted six months later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is between three and four months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2008 through 2011 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘TRIUMPH’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘VALOR’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Color of mature fruit RHS 44A RHS 46A Red Ranges from red to dark red Color of internal flesh RHS 44B RHS 45A Medium red Ranges from medium red to dark red Color of core RHS 44C RHS 45B Light red Medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.3 3.7 Fruit width (cm) 3.6 3.5 Fruit length/width ratio 1.24 1.05 Slightly longer than broad Slightly longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 4.9 4.7 Average fruit weight (gm) 21.5 22.0 Achene color, shaded side RHS 160A RHS 160A Greyed yellow group Greyed yellow group Achene color, sun-exposed side RHS 182A RHS 183A Greyed red group Greyed red group Achenes per berry 311 382 Achene weight (mg) 0.62 0.43 Marketable fruit yield (gm/plant) 583 528 Fruit size Medium Ranges from medium to large Predominant fruit shape Conical Conical Difference in shapes between Slight Ranges from slight to moderate primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow Unevenness of fruit surface Weak Weak Evenness of fruit color Even Even Fruit glossiness Ranges from medium to strong Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Ranges from below surface to level with surface Insertion of calyx In the basin In the basin Attitude of calyx Spreading Spreading Size of calyx in relation to fruit Slightly larger Slightly larger diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Ranges from medium to firm Firm Keeping quality Very good Very good Distribution of red color of the Marginal and central Marginal and central flesh Hollow center expression Weak Absent or very weak Fruit flavor Ranges from very good to good Good Soluble solids (% brix) 7.3 7.6 Time of first flowering Early Ranges from early to medium Time of first harvesting Early Ranges from early to medium Harvest period Late September to mid Late September to mid December December Type of bearing Fully remontant (everbearing) Fully remontant (everbearing)

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR' Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Plant height (cm) 25.8 23.0 Plant spread (cm) 35.4 29.9 Crowns per plant  3.5  5.3 Plant size Large Medium Plant habit Upright Upright Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Strong Medium

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 144A Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin coloration RHS 180C RHS 180A Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin intensity Weak Ranges from weak to medium Stolon pubescence Dense Dense Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Upward Average stolon quantity Medium Few (nursery) Average stolon diameter at 3.4 3.3 bract (mm)

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 137A RHS N 137B Medium green Ranges from medium green to dark green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Number of leaflets Ranges from 3 to 4 3 Shape in cross section Slightly concave Slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering Medium Medium Leaf glossiness Medium Medium Leaf variegation Present Present Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 9.7 7.7 Width (cm) 8.3 8.0 Leaf size Ranges from large to Medium medium Length/width ratio 1.18 0.97 Longer than broad As long as broad Shape of base Acute Obtuse Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Serrations per leaf 22.5 20.3 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 146C RHS 144A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 18.7 16.3 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.8 3.8 Petiolule color RHS 146C RHS 144A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 16.4 12.4 Attitude of hairs Slightly outward Slightly outward Petiole pubescence Ranges from heavy to Sparse moderate Stipule: Color 146C 146A Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration None RHS 61A Red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Weak Length (mm) 18.8 18.8 Width (mm) 9.5 10.8

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181D RHS 181C Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Absent or very weak Length at maturity (cm) 32.4 28.4 Position relative to foliage Ranges from beneath Level with to level with Number of flowers Medium Medium Pedicel attitude of hairs Strongly outward Upward Pubescence Strong Ranges from medium to strong Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Petal color RHS NN 155C RHS NN 155C White group White group Sepal color RHS 137B RHS 137A Green group Green group Receptacle color RHS 147C RHS 147C Green group Green group Anther color RHS 15A RHS 14B Yellow orange Yellow orange group group Corolla diameter (mm) 32.0 29.8 Medium Medium Calyx diameter (mm) 36.0 31.7 Petal length (mm) 11.7 12.0 Petal width (mm) 11.6 11.7 Petal length/width ratio 1.01 1.03 As long as broad As long as broad Petals/flower 6.4 6.0 Sepal length (mm) 13.7 13.8 Sepal width (mm) 5.3 6.4 Sepal length/width ratio 2.60 2.18 Sepals/flower 13.6 12.3 Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger Larger Stamen Present Present Size of inner calyx relative to Ranges from small- Smaller outer calyx er to same Relative position of petals Overlapping Ranges from touch- ing to overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘VALOR’ Characteristic ‘TRIUMPH’ (US PP 20,394) Powdery mildew Susceptible Susceptible Angular leaf spot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Two-spotted spider mite Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Lygus bug Susceptible Susceptible Flower thrips Moderately resistant Moderately susceptible 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘TRIUMPH’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 